Wildrose Party leader Danielle Smith votes in High River Monday. Her party offers policies squarely in the Reform party tradition.Mike Sturk, Reuters
/ Vancouver Sun

Wildrose party leader Danielle Smith (centre) has lunch at a Sikh Temple with her husband David Moretta (left) and Wildrose candidate Happy Mann during a campaign stop in Calgary on Sunday. Wildrose is the favourite in today's election.Todd Korol, Reuters
/ Postmedia News

Related

Nail-biting over the possibility of an era of Canadian disunity triggered by an inward-looking Wildrose government in Alberta was for naught.

Wildrose, for now, has been left in the opposition ranks of Alberta’s legislature, to the relief of progressive-minded voters and those fretting about national unity.

The Wildrose gang was rumoured to be plotting cuts to Alberta’s equalization contributions with a view to keeping more petroleum booty for itself. It was said to be scheming to establish a separate pension scheme and immigration services.

But Monday’s election — in which 61 PCs and 17 Wildrosers were sent to Edmonton — showed Albertans either are more progressive than imagined or were turned off by the loose-lipped bozos within Wildrose’s ranks.

That, however, does not mean the forces of unity within Canada are now robust.

A Wildrose government indeed would have been problematic; Alberta is leading national growth and should lead national discussions.

Conservative Premier Alison Redford certainly has a broad-based perspective, promoting the idea that the oilsands should and will benefit every region of Canada.

Still, a spirit of decentralization appears to be upon the country, with public discussion of national unity being confined to the memory bin.

Ottawa no longer conjures up feel-good programs aimed at bringing Canadians together, such as Katimavik or national scholarship funds. A federal-provincial conference attended by the PM and premiers hasn’t been held in ages.

Bilingualism and biculturalism, as policy themes, have grown cobwebs.

The Harper government, elected six years ago, has focused on areas of federal jurisdiction, withdrawing from provincial ones such as health care, leaving the door open to different programming in the various provinces.

Ottawa is cutting spending, making the federal government — itself a unifying body — less of a national force.

And worryingly, Quebec’s alienation is growing.

When separatism was a threat back in the ’70s and ’80s, Canadians were frustrated and exasperated — but also fully engaged in trying to keep the country whole.

These days, the words “constitution” and “separatism” are conversation killers. People are far more preoccupied with Western resource development and trade with Asia, as well as health care and pensions.

Quebec’s isolation has been exacerbated by the Conservative government’s inability to gain support in the province. It won just 16.5 per cent of the vote in the recent election, translating into weak cabinet representation.

Industry Minister Christian Paradis was discredited recently by the federal ethics commissioner, while Maxime Bernier, Minister of State for Small Business, carries the disgrace of previously being booted from cabinet.

The Harper government has not championed Quebecers’ priorities, knowing the province is not part of its political base. On gun control, climate change, promotion of the monarchy and militarism, Harper has not been particularly attentive to voter sentiment there.

Former Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff raised eyebrows this week for telling a British interviewer that Quebec could one day separate.

“The problem here is that we don’t have anything to say to each other any more,” declared Ignatieff, now a University of Toronto academic. “There’s a kind of contract of mutual indifference....”

His statement may have been impolitic and controversial, but it also was accurate. Quebecers these days don’t demand much from the rest of Canada beyond cheques. When there’s disagreement — as with a battle with Ottawa over preserving gun registry data or a national securities regulator — it pursues its case in the courts.

Had Alberta anointed a Wildrose government this week, the unity situation would have been aggravated — but not much more than it is already.

byaffe@vancouversun.com

Share

Yaffe: Defeat of Wildrose does not eliminate threats to national unity

Saskatoon loves its Christmas lights. The Enchanted Forest draws thousands of vehicles each week. The late Bob Hinitt worked for months building his light display, which drew thousands of cars each year to Wiggins Avenue. And Scott Lambie on Clinkskill Drive has continued the tradition with more than 70,000 dancing lights (up from 50,000 last […]

When it comes to gift giving, they say it’s the thought that counts. But many are wondering if Mayor Drew Dilkens was thinking at all when he gave Olympic superstar Michael Phelps — whose battles with booze are well known — a big bottle of Canadian Club whisky.

Almost Done!

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.